Lead adjustment for propeller blades



WEAVER.

LEAD ADJUSTMENT FOR PROPELLER BLADES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 8.1917-I1,405,643, Paf/@md Feb. 7, 1922.

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IN VEN TUR I M1/,MWI @y *Maf provide such means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE WEAVER, OF BRYAN, OHIO.

LEAD ADJUSTMENT FOR PROPELTJER BLADES.

Application filed September 8, 1917.

.skilled in the art to which it -appertains to make and use .the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the charactersof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to lead adjusting means for propeller-blades ofthe type particularly used on aeroplanes or the like. In the use .ofaerop'lanes it is particularly desirable 4in starting from rest positionto have the propeller-blades set with a small degree of lead, and whenthe machine has been raised from the ground and is nicely running, tothen increase the speed thereof by advancing the lead a greater or lessextent to suit conditions. It s herefore important to have some meansfor adjusting the propeller-blades to accom lish this, and the primaryobject of my invention is to Further objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

While the invention, in its broader aspeet, is capable of embodiment innumerous forms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the.accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a central longitudinalsection of a means embodying the invention, taken on the line 1-1 inFig. 2. Fig. 2 is a similar section taken on the plane of separation ofthe hub sections, with parts in full, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on ,the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, with parts infull.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the hub-shell of apropeller-wheel, said shell having an interior chamber'2, and, in thepresent instance, beingA substantially spherical in form, but is notnecessarily restricted to such shape. The hub-shell is split through itscenter to form the two separable semi-spherical sections or halves 3 and4, and is provided at diametrieally opposite. points in the line ofseparation of the sections with bearing openings 5, 5, in each 4 ofwhich a stub-shaft or journal' 6, projecting longitudinally from theinner end of a propeller-blade 7, is mounted for free rotarySpecification of Letters Patent.

yPatented Feb. 7, 1922.

Serial No. 190,354.

movements, the journal, in the present instance, having a ball-bearingmount in the opening. The hub-shell is also provided in line with thepoint of separation of its sections and at right angles to the bearingopenings 5, 5 with oppositely disposed openings 8 and 9, through whichthe propellershaft 10 projects, the shaft being keyed at itsend in theopening 8. A sleeve 11 is threaded through the opening 9 in closeencircling relatlon to the shaft and forms an adjustable stop for thethrust-collar 12, whiehis mounted on the shaft within the hub chamber.The hub sections are secured together, in the present instance, byoutwardly extending the wall of each opening 5, 8 and 9 in the form ofan annular sleeve or boss and threading binding nuts 13 thereon, thethreads being preferably cut on a taper to effect a gradual tighteningas each nut is screwed home.

The stub-shafts or journals 6 of the propeller-blades are provided withinnerand outer flanges 14 and 15, respectively, whichi cooperate withthe end walls of the respective bearings 5 to prevent longitudinalmovements of the blade-shafts therein.

A yoke 16 of U-form, in the present in-v stance, is mounted on the shaft'10 for shifting movements longitudinally thereof within the hub chamber2, the shaft projecting through the center of the yoke and the legs ofthe latter extending lengthwise of the shaft and .away from the outerend of the hub 1, or that to which the shaft 10 is keyed. A coiledcompression spring 17, is mounted on the shaft 10 between thethrustcollar 12 and yoke 16 and'serves to normally retain said yoke atthe limit of its outward movement with respect to the-shaft or in stopcontact with the shell at the inner end of the bearing opening 8thereof, as best shown inv Fig. 1. The wings or legs of this `yoke fitquite closely between the flanges the shaft 10 will impart simultaneousreverse rocking movements to the propellerblades to increase or lessenthe lead thereof, depending on the direction of movement of the yoke.The arrangement is such, in the present instance, that a movement of theyoke 16 away from the bearing open1ng 8, or against the tension of thespring 17, will effect an increase of the propeller-blade lead, thenormal position of the blades being suitable for starting and slowrunning. The. movement of the yoke 16 against the tension of the spring17 to increase the lead of the blades may be automatic and controlled bythe speed of rotation of the shaft 10, or it may be manually controlled,as desired. In the present instance, I have illustrated an automaticgovernor means for controlling the lead changing vmovements of the yoke,such mechanism embodying the two bell-crank levers 20,20, which arefulcrumed to ears 21 on the respective hub sections and have their shortarms projecting inward through registering 'openings 22 in the hubsections and in pin-and-slot connection with the adjacent leg of theyoke 16, as at 23. The other arm of each lever projects forward or awayfrom the end of the hub against which the yoke 16 abuts and is weightedat its free end to facilitate a rocking of the levers by centrifugalaction when revolved with the hub. The centrifugal movement of thegovernor-levers causes a movement of the yoke 16 against the tension ofthe spring 17 and in a direction to increase the lead of thepropeller-blades. A. conical governor control member 24- is feathered onthe shaft 10 for shifting movements axially thereof and-has its conicalportion dis osed in encircling relation to the free en s of the'governor-levers 20 in position for the ends of such levers to have theiroutward centrifugal movements limited by contact with said member. Byshifting the control member in one direction or the other the extent ofpermissible centrifugal movement of the levers is regulated, as isapparent. A control-rod 25 for the member 24 extends therefrom to aposition withinl convenient reachof the operator. In the use of mydevice it is evident that 1n starting a machine from rest position, orwhen running slow, the centrifugal action of the governor-levers 20 isnot sufiicient to overpower the spring 17 and effect a movement of theyoke 16 to increase the propeller-blade lead. It is evident, however,that as the machine increases its speed the resistance of the air on thepropellers lessens, thus permitting the engine to increase its speed.

vAs such engine speed is increased the governor-leversv act Ito forcethe yoke 16 against the tension of the spring 17 and to increase thelead of the propeller-blades so that the blades have a greaterpropelling force in contact with the air and the speed of the machine isaccordingly increased. The Vreverse action is present in stopping orslowing down the machine.

It is evident that I have provided a simple and efficientpropeller-blade lead adjusting means, all of the parts of which areassembled without the use of screws or bolts and may be separated byremoving the bindingnuts 13 from the respective bearing-bosses of thehub-shell, as this permits a separation of the shell sections afterwhich the bla-de carrying and adjusting parts may be withdrawn from theshell and separated. A pair of nuts 26 are mounted on the rear end ofthe shaft 10 without the hub-bearing 8 and serve to prevent relativelongitudinal movements of the shaft and shell. One of these nuts servesas a lock-nut and the other has its inner side dished or provided with atapered edge flange to adapt it, when screwed home, to receive thecorrespondingly shaped end-of the adjacent bearingboss to serve toretain the shell parts in assembled relation. j

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, or to the use ofautomatic governing or control means for the lead changing means, as theinvention is capable of numerous modifications andy changes without-departing from the spirit of the claims. A A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1, 'In combination, a hub, a plurality of propeller-blades carried bysaid hub for rotary lead changing movements relative thereto and toeachother, and means normally retaining one lead adjustment of the bladesand automatically operable to adjust the blades to vary the lead thereofwhen the blades are revolving at a predetermined speed.

` 2. In combination, a propeller-hub, propeller-blades carried by saidhub for relative lead adjusting movements, means within the hubconnecting said blades' and normally retaining them in one position oflead adjusti ment, and centrifugal governor means connected to saidfirst means and operable by the speed of rotation ofthe hub to move saidfirst means to vary the blade lead from normal position.'

3. In combination, a propeller-shaft, a hub carried by said shaft,propeller-blades *carried-by saidhub for relative lead adjustingmovements, a member carried by said shaft for yielding movements in onedirection from normal position, connection between said member andblades to impart simultaneous relative lead adjusting movements theretowhen the member is moved relative to the shaft, and means controllingthe movements of said member and operable by rotation of the propellerto move 1t from normal position.

it, In combination, a propeller-shaft, a

hollow hub fixed to said shaft, a yoke mount` ed on the shaft for axialmovements relative `thereto within the hub', connection betweensaid/yokel and. each of said 'blades operable to impart' relative leadadjusting movements to the blades when the yoke is moved on the shaft,and means connected to said yoke and operable by rotation of thepropeller to move the same to vary the lead of said blades.

5. In combination, "a propeller-shaft, a

hollow hub fixed to said shaft, a yoke mounted on the shaft for axialmovements relativel thereto within the hub, spring means normallyretaining said yoke in one position of its movement relative to theshaft, connection between said yoke and each of said blades operable toimpart relative lead adjusting movements to the blades when the yoke ismoved on the shaft and means connected to said yoke andl operable tomove.

. the same fromnormal position.

, journaled at their .innerends in said hub for rotary lead adjustlngmovements, a member 6. In combination, a propeller shaft, 'a hollow. hubfixed thereto, propeller blades disposed j between the inner ends ofsaid blades within the hub and'movable longitudinally of saidshaft,`means normally retaining said member in one position of itsmovement and yieldingly resisting a movement thereof from the oppositedirection, separate connections between said member Aand ysaid bladeslto vimpart opposite lead changing movements thereto when the mem-` beris moved, and centrifugal governor means carried by the hub andconnected to said member to control the movements of the member. y v

7 In combination, a shaft, a hollow hub fixed thereto, a centrifugalgoverni` actuated by the rotation ofthe shaft and hub and having a'member disposed within the hub and yieldingly movable in one directionaxially of the shaft', propeller blades journaled in opposite sides ofsaid hub for lead changing vmovements, and separate connection betweensaid member and the inner ends axially alignedbearings ink oppositesidesv thereof, a propellerl blade journaled at its' leadadjustment-thereof by a variation in the 'blades Ycarried by the hubfor'rotary lead lead adjustingmovements of said last means.

inner end yin each of said bearings for-lead i.

changing adjustment relative to the hub, and means disposed. in part'Within saidhub between the inner ends of said blades i-n cen- 'nectionwithv each and operable to rotate said blades relative to the hub to.vary the speedv of rotation of the hub. y

l'10. In combination, a hub, a plurality of propeller blades carried Iby said hubfor rotary lead changing movements relative thereto, neans4connected to said blades and 75 rautomatically operable by rotation ofthe hub to adjust the blades to. vary the lead thereof, and variablemanually.. controlled means for limiting the lead adjusting movements ofsaid last means.v

11. In' combination, a hollow hub, a plurality of propellerbladescarried bysaid hub for rotary lead changing movements -relative thereto,and means connected to the blades interiorly of the hub andautomatically operable by rotation of the hub to rotate the'bladesytovary the lead thereof.

12. Inl combination, a propeller shaft, a hub fixed thereto, aVplurality of propeller changing movements relative thereto, centrifugalgovernor means connected to said blades interiorly of the hub andoperable by rotation of the hub to vary the lead adjust-ment ofsaidfblades, a spring acting on said governor'means interiorly of thehub to normally retain itl and the blades -in one position of leadadjustment, and'means projecting from therhub and manually oper-- abletovary the-tension ofsaid spring.

teriorly of the hub and automatically operable by rotation of the hub t,rotate the blades tol vary the lead thereof, and variable manuallycontrolled means for limiting the 14. In combination, a propeller shaft,a hollow hub fixed to said shaft-and having axially aligned bearingsinoppos'ite sides.

thereof, a propeller blade journaled at its v inner end in each of saidbearings for lead changing adjustment relative to the hub, meansdisposed in art withinsa'id hub between the inner en s of said-bladesinconnection with each andoperable to rotate said blades relative to thehub to vary thelead adjustment thereof bya variation in the speed ofrotation of the hub, and variable manually 'controlled means forlimiting the lead adjust-ing movements ofsaid last means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my Vto this s l ification.E WEAYER.

13. In combination, a hollow hub, a plurality of propeller bladescarried'by said hub h for rotary lead changing movements relativethereto, means connected to the bladesfin- .'r

